Retinal Dystrophy

A wide category of progressive genetic visual disorders that affects 1 in 4,000 individuals. There are several kinds of retinal dystrophy that are linked to over 300 genes, which makes exact diagnosis difficult.
There is currently no cure or treatment options for retinal dystrophy. Almost all diagnosed individuals inevitably progress to blindness.

Retinal Dystrophy is loosely broken into two categories:

• Cone Dystrophy – where the cones are affected primarily, or before the rods are affected. Colorblindness is usually one of the first symptoms, and will progressively get worse. Symptoms usually begin in children or teenagers and will worsen until the individual is blind. The stationary (non-progressive) equivalent of Cone Dystrophy is Achromatopsia.
• Rod dystrophy – where the rods are affected primarily, or before the cones are affected. Nyctalopia (Night Blindness) is usually the first noticeable symptom. The most common Form of Rod Dystrophy is Retinitis Pigmentosa.